Method of painting on velvet or other cut pile fabric



Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STAT ES PATENT: OFFICE.

7 ROBERT ALEXANDER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

y METHOD or PAINTING on vnrvnron ori-rnncnr PILE FABRIC.

No Drawing.

painting. Another object is to produce an artistic painted fabric which wlth different lay of the napwill give varied effects. A further object is to so paint on a piled fabric, 'suchas velvet, so. that different appear ances will be given to the painting when viewed from different directions.

In order to obtain these effects and to produce a useful as well as artistic work, I utilize fabrics having a suitable nap cr cut pile, such as velvet, plush, velvet tapestry. Velvetine may also be used as well as the plain cut pile fabrics.

' My methodof painting and the article produced maybe ascertained from the followingdescription directed towards a procedure in working on the velvet to produce a painting which not only has. an artistic effect, but may be so made as to simulate a velvet tapestry I Y I As is well known, good velvet preferably a silk velvet-has a rather close out pile or nap, and the nap has a certain lay in which it has a smooth feel when brushed 1n the direction of the lay and a rough feel when brushed opposite to or across the lay. In

P the natural velvet the nap or pile hes in the direction of the lay in which a certain amount of the short stubby threads are visible on their sides. .When. brushed opposite to the lay the threads are more or less on end or bent backwardly.

In proceeding to paint on velvet I utilize paints known as bronzes that 1s, so-called metallic paints. These are preferably used in powder form and a mixture is made of shellac and alcohol (which may be either 1 grain or wood alcohol). I generally utihze these in the proportion of two-thirds shellac to one-third alcohol. The various colors are obtained by using bronzes powders of the proper colors or by combining the colors to secure the desired tint. Artists brushes of different shapes and types may be used in accordance with the style of work.. The brushes are dipped into the solution of shellac and alcohol above mentioned, a small amount of bronze is picked up with a damp Application filed May 20, 1925. Serial no; 31,694.

bruslf and worked on a pallette to the proper consistency when it is applied to the velvet. The velvet ispreferably stretched or laid on a table or in a frame on an artists easel, it IS carefully brushed to secure the lay of the pile in the natural manner of the velvet.

If the article produced is to be used as a drapery or dress the painting wouldbe made- Wllilfl the'pile or nap runmng from top to.

bottom. r

A drawing of the design to be painted is then sketched on the velvet with any suitable chalk or ready removable crayon. The. pa nt ng may bedone directly with the painting brush'by working against the pile.

This raisesthe nap or pile and causes the bronze to adhere to the side of the upturned pile. To secure amore decided eifect'it is preferable to brush the 'pilein the reverse direction before applyingthe paint with the paintbrush. This may be done-.byuusing a velvet pad or some similar stiff brush. The pile may also be brushed from one sideor the other before or during the painting in: order to apply the bronzes to the sides. of the the nap to smooth the whole of the fabric.

If the effect desired is not obtained by an over-brilliancy or the use of too much paint, this may be rubbed off in the parts desired .by brushing the velvet against or with the lay of the pile or crossways thereto. If it is desired to heighten the color in any places the pile may be brushed back and more bronze applied.

" I may utilize brocaded velvets and paint in the design formedby the brocading in theabove manner by brushing against the lay of the nap so as to deposit the minute particles of the paint or bronze on the threads of the )ile. I In order to give a different effect to the painting when viewed from different directions the velvet may be painted as follows: After being thoroughly smoothed a design may be painted by brushing downwardly on the pile with very thin paints so as to make a fiat deposit of the paint or bronze on the smooth threads of the pile. The painting thus produced may be thoroughly brushed in the reverse direction to obtain as well as possible a reversed effect of the pile and a painting with different tones or colors, or possibly a different design may be worked thereon. \Vith some velvets this reyerse brushing may be done with a paint brush. The velvet will then be brushed from one side to the other in order to cause the pile to lay crossways to their natural position and still different tones of colors may be used. This type of painting gives an excellent effect when used with long pile fabrics such as plush or velours, and gives a very artistic effect when used as draperies as the folding of the fabric and the brushing by drawing aside portieres or the like shift the lay of the pile and thus expose different colors as well as different types of paint, giving varied effects.

It is manifest that fabrics having a wool, cotton or other types of thread may be utilized as well as those having silk thread, such as genuine velvet. The material used for the base of the painting would, of course, depend upon the effect desired as well as the monetary value of the resulting painting. It is obvious by using a fabric having a very long nap that interesting and peculiar effects may be obtained by brushing and holding the nap in different directions while the design is painted thereon. As the bronze or similar character paints will cling tightly to most the fabric, carpets and rugs may be formed in the manner above described, utilizing a base fabric having a suitable type and length of pile.

My invention not only includes painting on a pile fabric but comprehends dyeing fabrics in different designs or utilizing dyes and applying them to preferably a plain color base fabric in the direction of the lay of the pile or opposite thereto or crossways if desired. In this type of dyeing designs on fabrics it is preferable to use thin tint colors and gradually apply these until sullicientdepth of color is obtained.

It is thus manifest that my invention in the method of painting, coating or dyeing piled fabrics may be considerably varied and that the works and articles produced may have quite distinct and different characteristics.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. The method of applying color effects of varying hues to cut pile fabric of the character described which consists in brushing paint into the material in the direction of the lay of the pile and against the lay of the pile in separate steps.

2. The method of applying color effects of varying hues to cut pile fabric of the character described which consists in brushing paint into the material in the direction of the lay of the pile and against the lay of the pile and crosswise to the lay in separate steps.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROBERT ALEXANDER.

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